Vlk40 - Songs of Innocence


Plate 4	The Shepherd How sweet is the Shepherd's sweet lot! From the morn to the evening he strays; He shall follows his sheep all the day, And his tongue shall be filled with praise. For he hears the lamb's innocent call, And he hears the ewe's tender reply; He is watchful while they are in peace, For they know when their Shepherd is nigh.
Plate 5	Infant Joy "I have no name: 1 am but two days old." What shall I call thee:' "I happy am, Joy is my name." Sweet joy befall thee! Pretty joy! Sweet joy, but two days old. Sweet joy I call thee: Thou dost smile, I sing the while, Sweet joy befall thee!
Plate 6	On Another's Sorrow: Can I see another's woe, And not be in sorrow too! Can I see another's grief, And not seek for kind relief! Can I see a falling tear, And not feel my sorrow's share? Can a father see his child 'Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd! Can a mother sit and hear An infant groan, an infant fear? No, no! never can it be! Never, never can it be! And can he who smiles on all Hear the wren with sorrows small, Hear the small bird's grief & care, Hear the woes that infants bear, And not sit beside the nest, Pouring pity in their breast; And not sit the cradle near, Weeping tear on infant's tear; And not sit both night & day, Wiping all our tears away? O! no, never can it be! Never, never can it be! He doth give his joy to all; He becomes an infant small; He becomes a man of woe; He doth feel the sorrow too. Think not thou canst sigh a sigh, And thy maker is not by; Think not thou canst weep a tear, And thy maker is not near. O! he gives to us his joy That our grief he may destroy; Till our grief is fled & gone He doth sit by us and moan.
Plate 7	The School Boy I love to rise in a summer morn When the birds sing on every tree; The distant huntsman winds his horn, And the sky-lark sings with me. O! what sweet company. But to go to school in a summer morn, O! it drives all joy away; Under a cruel eye outworn, The little ones spend the day In sighing and dismay. Ah! then at times I drooping sit, And spend many an anxious hour, Nor in my book can I take delight, Nor sit in learning's bower, Worn thro' with the dreary shower. How can the bird that is born for joy Sit in a cage and sing:' Hear can a child, when fears annoy, But droop his tender wing, And forget his youthful spring? O! father & mother, if buds are nip'd And blossoms blown away, And if the tender plants are strip'd Of their joy in the springing day, By sorrow and care's dismay, How shall the summer arise in joy, Or the summer fruits appearr Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy, Or bless the mellowing year, When the blasts of winter appear?